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Home , Recycling, Zero waste

STEPS TO BEING A ZERO CONSUMER Before you acquire a product, ask yourself these questions:

CAN I GO WITHOUT IT? In the past 50 years, starts with consuming less! The first step to reducing humans have consumed is letting go of the consumption mentality. Before you take or buy, more resources than in all think critically whether you really need that thing or could you previous history. repurpose something you already have. Source: US EPA CAN I BORROW IT? 26 billion pounds of Buying less means decreasing demand for creating new products so less textiles end up in will end up in the . Ask yourself - how often will you use it? Borrowing isn’t just for books from the library, you can rent anything from each year. formal wear to sports equipment if you dig a little deeper. Source: US EPA ZERO WASTE TIP: Did you know Solana Center has a tool library open to all San Diego residents?

CAN I GET IT USED? For every one can of Buying used eliminates the upstream impacts. It’s not just clothes you can get used, you can also buy furniture, sporting we put at the curb, 87 goods, books, and more. You can find these in brick and cans worth of waste have already mortar second hand thrift stores or online from handy sites been made from the extraction such as Nextdoor, OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, & ThredUp. and processes. Source: World Resource Institute (WRI) IF YOU NEED TO BUY IT... CAN I GET A REUSABLE VERSION? There are many types of reusable items - from water , to The average American uses , to soap dispensers. When buying new, seek out products 156 disposable water that will last as long as possible, ideally made with the bottles a year. lowest impact or from recycled materials. For example, Source: Earthday.org switching to reusable silicon bags allows you to ditch single use sandwich bags! CAN I GET IT WITH LESS PACKAGING? Sometimes packaging feels inevitable, but there are ways to avoid a 40 percent of plastic lot of it! Bringing your own reusable allows you to go zero waste in the produce section, bulk bins, and even when getting take produced is packaging, out. Keep an eye out for containers made of and metal which are used just once and 100% recyclable materials! then discarded.

ZERO WASTE TIP: Have you visited the NADA Shop in Encinitas yet? Source: University of , Santa Barbra Bring a to refill your personal care and home good items.

WASTE LESS FROM LAND TO SEA CLOSE YOUR WASTE LOOP Before you throw something away, ask yourself these questions:

CAN I REPAIR IT? Approximately 350,000 It is often more cost effective to fix something instead of buying another one new. Use tailors, cobblers, and electronic repair shops to mobile phones are keep your things in use. disposed of each day in ZERO WASTE TIP: Look for products with lifetime warranties or pick up a the US. new hobby and become a DIY expert! The internet has many resources Source: US EPA available to guide you, search using keyword “Repair + name of item.” CAN I REPURPOSE IT? Materials need to be heated Whether it was made to be reusable or not, everything can to approximitaley 2500° F to have another purpose with a little creativity. For example, try make a glass jar. using an old t-shirt to clean rather than buy towels. Source: ExplainThatStuff Ideas are unlimited, check pinterest.com or find a zero waste blog for inspiration!

CAN SOMEONE ELSE USE IT? It takes 1800 gallons of Not only will it reduce waste but you are helping those in need when water to produce a pair of you donate things you no longer want. Try selling online, have a garage sale, offer it in a “Buy Nothing” group on Facebook, or gift to jeans and 400 gallons to someone that might want it. make one new T-shirt. ZERO WASTE TIP: Host a swap party with friends as a fun way to share Source: Tree Hugger resources and refresh your wardrobe waste-free! 75% of America’s waste is CAN I RECYCLE IT? potentially recyclable, but right Find your local guide at edco.com to familiarize yourself with what is and what isn’t recyclable. now we only recycle around 35% of Follow these general principles to recycle right: our waste. Glass and aluminum are 100% recyclable and can go from Empty Floppy Sloppy bin to back on the shelf in 60 days! No food or minimal Plastic that is floppy is NOT residue remaining. recyclable in your blue curbside bin. Source: Rubicon, US EPA, RecyclingFacts.org & Earth911 Dry Examples: plastic bags and plastic film. Seek out special recycling for: Rinsed and dried, no Rigid Recyclable E-waste | Plastic Bags | Textiles | liquids remaining. Plastic that is rigid IS recyclable. And more! Check out wastefreesd.org to Loose Examples: plastic bottles, locate sites closest to you. Do not recyclables. (non-compostable) take out containers.

Scan to learn more about recycling in Encinitas! Do NOT put in your curbside : Plastic bags (and other film plastic) Food soiled items (a little residue is ok) Cords, ropes and other tangling items (Christmas lights and hoses) (, bulbs, batteries, propane tanks, paint etc.)

WASTE LESS FROM LAND TO SEA